Colombo: A large-scale protest took place outside the Ramanathan Hindu Ladies’ College in Bambalapitiya on Thursday, May 8, as demonstrators demanded justice for 15-year-old Dilshi Amshika, a former student who took her own life on April 29. Protesters allege the suicide stemmed from prolonged sexual and psychological abuse by her school’s mathematics teacher.
The crowd called for immediate legal action, not only against the accused teacher but also against those believed to be shielding him from accountability. Public outrage has mounted amid accusations of inaction by school authorities, despite repeated complaints.
In response, the Ministry of Education has asked the school principal to submit an official report. An Education Ministry official confirmed that the teacher has been transferred and stated that further action would depend on the outcome of the police investigation. However, experts argue this is insufficient.
Professor Harendra De Silva, a respected paediatrician and child rights advocate, emphasized that administrative measures like transfers are not appropriate responses to allegations of child abuse, which fall under the criminal justice system. “This is a matter for police and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA),” he told Daily Mirror, a Sri Lankan Publication. He stressed that under Sri Lankan law, such offenses are serious crimes with mandatory sentencing, not issues to be resolved through internal school processes.
Although the accused teacher was arrested by Bambalapitiya Police, he was later released on bail. Dilshi's mother, speaking at a media briefing, described her daughter as a bright and capable student who suffered greatly due to the alleged abuse. She said her daughter was publicly humiliated at a private tuition class, triggering flashbacks of her trauma, which ultimately led to a deterioration in her mental health and her tragic death.
Despite repeated complaints from the family, the school allegedly failed to take meaningful action. It was, in fact, a judicial medical officer who eventually lodged a police complaint based on a detailed medical report documenting the abuse.
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union, through its General Secretary Joseph Stalin, called for a swift and thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator.
Protesters demanded that Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, along with other top officials, take decisive steps to ensure justice is served.
[Human Online, Daily Mirror]
